Ammanford Town 3 v Llanelli Town 5

The pre-match hype surrounding the clash between the two top sides in the division proved to be fully justified, as an exhilarating contest produced a hat full of goals as well as fully committed performances from both sides, with the visitors finally bringing to an end Ammanford`s incredible fifteen match unbeaten run, but perhaps more importantly, placing a little more light between themselves and the chasing pack.

Referee Luke Gregory also played his part in overseeing the game between the near-neighbours, which at times became feisty but never threatened to get out of control.

The Reds welcomed back two key players into the starting line-up – Luke Jones after his four match suspension and Jamie Evans following a long-term injury, and the former, despite notching up the opening goal could well have gone on to score more, but each time seemed to freeze at the vital moment.

The visitors were on the front foot from the outset, with Richard Lewis having his free kick blocked by the defensive wall, while Steve Berry curled another set piece narrowly over the Ammanford goal.

Luke Jones then had his first chance after accepting a through ball, but delayed his shot when well placed and was eventually crowded out and the opportunity lost.

Another well struck shot by Lewis from distance forced keeper James Kirkwood to parry and then gratefully gather it at head height, before the Reds took the lead on 19 minutes with Lewis again involved, making a run down the left before crossing for Luke jones to connect and steer the ball beyond Kirkhouse.

The home side were being pegged back in their own half, and were fortunate not to fall further behind when a Lewis free kick rebounded off the post with the keeper beaten.

Against the run of play, the hosts got back on level terms following a rare sortie into their opponents` half when a speculative shot on target led to Peter Scammell in the Reds` goal parrying the effort but was unable to grasp it cleanly, allowing Matthew Fisher a simple tap-in from point blank range in the 23rd minute.

Stung by this unexpected reverse, the Reds countered and regained the initiative six minutes later through Berry who curled a superb free kick from 25 yards into the top corner with Kirkwood helpless.

They should then have gone further ahead when Lee Bevan hoisted a clearance into the box which fell to Luke Jones a few yards from goal, but he failed to make a clean connection and the keeper was able to smother at his feet.

This miss was exemplified when on the stroke of half time Ammanford equalised for a second time through prolific striker, Craig Frater, although Scammell should have done better with his free kick from 30 yards which soared over the wall but went at a nice height for the keeper, but he was unable to keep it out.

All square at the break, the second half commenced with the hosts showing far more dominance than in the first period, although an initial chance fell to the Reds with Kirkwood blocking a Bruno Forkuoh attempt low at his near post.

A quickly taken home set-piece led to Scammell coming off his line to block, but on the hour mark, the Reds found themselves trailing for the first time when Berry clipped the heels of Fisher in the box leading to the award of a penalty, which Frater despatched down the middle.

Despite this setback, the visitors were still creating chances with most of them falling to the luckless Luke Jones, with him again failing to finish when Berry found him close to goal, allowing Kirkwood to gather, and when the keeper scuffed an attempted clearance, it fell into the path of Jones, but this time his effort was just deflected for a corner.

They had better luck after 71 minutes when Declan John, who had earlier replaced Robert Thomas, delivered a corner to the near post which appeared to be met by Bevan, although the final touch which took it past Kirkwood could well have come off a home player.

This success gave the Reds a timely boost, and they were again on top, regaining the lead on 77 minutes when Lewis after a strong run into the box was adjudged to have been fouled, and he took the spot kick himself, blasting it into the bottom corner.

Prior to this, the visitors had made a couple of changes with Sam Wilson replacing Forkuoh and Kellan Jenkins coming on for Luke Jones, but there was concern when Ross Jones was floored by a heavy challenge from Kurtis Morgan, but thankfully recovered after treatment.

With the clock running down, the contest was still in the melting pot, and Reds` supporters hearts were in their mouths when the home team pushed forward, with them going close to yet another equaliser when Scammell pushed out a cross into the goalmouth which was then driven back into the danger area, but somehow a number of strikes were scrambled off the line.

In stoppage time, the visitors finally put the result beyond doubt following some good initial play by John assisted by Wilson, which allowed the former to win possession before beating Kirkwood from close range.

A pulsating game for which both sides must take great credit, but the Reds will be hoping for a somewhat easier ride when they travel to meet Cwm Welfare next Saturday. Kick off 2 p.m.

AMMANFORD; Kirkwood; Salvage; Davies; Griffiths; R. Fisher ©; N. Jones; Squires; Enoch

Morgan, 78); Frater; M. Fisher; Morris (Richards, 85);

Subs. not used; M. Jones; Frayers; Rono.

LLANELLI TOWN; Scammell; Napieralla; Lewis; Berry; Evans; Bevan ©; Forkuoh (Wilson, 72);

R. Jones; L. Jones (Jenkins, 73); Thomas (John, 62); Owens;

Subs. not used; Bauza; Hughes.

SCORERS;Ammanford – M. Fisher, 23; Frater, 45, 60 (P).

Llanelli Town – L. Jones, 19; Berry, 29; Bevan, 71; Lewis, 77 (P); John, 45+3.

YELLOW CARDS; Ammanford – Squires; Morris; Morgan.

Llanelli Town – R. Jones; Bevan.

REFEREE; Luke Gregory (Swansea).